Wednesday, August 27, 2008

S is doing the DALMAC bicycle ride (over 320 miles in four days) and I am going along to be an athletic supporter! (Which movie is that line from? I'm too tired to place it.)

We'll be camping out at various places between Lansing and Mackinaw City. When he finishes on Sunday, we're getting the hell outta Dodge because Monday is the one day a year the Mackinaw Bridge is open to pedestrians. And there are always a TON of pedestrians.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Normally I despise green tea. I just can't get past the taste of it. I liken it to chewing on grass - which I would never do - so why would I drink tea that tastes like what I think grass would taste like?

I went to a party recently and the only non-soda, non-lemonade (because citrus fruit sucks and citrus drinks suck even more. Well. Except for margaritas. But that's different and entirely its own post.), non-water drink they had was Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea iced tea by Lipton.

And can I just say here that it is ICED TEA. NOT ice tea. People forget the "d" all the time and it drives me nuts. Especially on menus.

Anyway!

The Lipton CPGT was quite yummy. The cranberry and pomegranate disguised the yucky green tea taste quite nicely - I can taste hints of it, but it is not over-powering. I've already gone through a box and it's on my grocery list - but I may make a special trip because it is that good.

There is just enough summer left for you to try this tea!

I can't imagine drinking it hot, though. Eew.

(Also, filming scenes from Whip It! in Ypsilanti today. I can't wait to see how they make Ypsilanti, MI, look like Austin, TX. We have no Bell Tower - just a spectacular water tower.)

Sunday, August 24, 2008

But first a bit of a back-story. My parents are always willing to lend a hand. Recently S has needed the Volvo Wagon I usually drive. This left me vehicleless. So my folks lent me their seldom-used minivan. (Not a Badass Minivan like Badger's, though.) Which, once in my possession, promptly showed the engine light. So they lent me their little truck while they got the minivan fixed. I wanted to do something nice for them since they helped me out with a vehicle. They buy everything they need for themselves but my parents have a dog. A dog they spoil and love and cherish and dote upon. People, meet Angie:

I knew this would be the way I could do something nice for them and they wouldn't say "oh, you shouldn't have." Because what I ended up doing cost me time and little bit of electricity.

And some thread.

Friday evening, I sat down at my borrowed sewing machine with a few of these:

...for my parent's dog. The folks recently bought her a booster seat for the car so she can see out the windows when traveling. The quilt is for her booster seat. I guessed on the size and did a fine darn job of it. It's just right.

Wasn't sure what to back it with so I used a bit of a Black Watch tartan flannel nightgown that was given to me ages ago:

Should be warm and cozy for her when she's riding in the air conditioned car. Or when they travel in winter.

All tied up and ready to go:

They loved it.

A bit of Britain.

I've had Cranford on reserve at the library for months. When I joined the queue, I was the 56th person in line for it. It was FINALLY my turn and I picked the film up on Saturday morning.

Watched three of the five hours between 11:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. last night. Finished it up just before I started this post.

I am a huge fan of British costume dramas. This one did not disappoint. I adore Judy Dench and she was fantastic in her role.

I watched the "making of" feature they had on the DVD and evidently there's enough substance left in the characters to make a sequel. Can you say WOO HOO!?! I can. And I did. Very loudly. Scared the dogs, actually.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Not sure if this apron itself is vintage or not, but I think the pattern is. Anyone know? The lapels and the front piece are what lead me to think it's an older pattern.

Don't know why this came out so dark. Regardless, if you look closely, you can see the pocket.

Here are some other thrift finds:

(left to right: white knotty bedspread, vintage pillowcases, linen curtain panel, vintage sheet. On the back of the couch is a double-layer lap blanket and a 'barbeque' apron. Don't think the apron is vintage but thought it would be great to wear at the cottage.)

Friday, August 15, 2008

Jumping on the bandwagon and doing the "this is me" meme. (Which I think was written by a 14 year old girl, but what the hell! It's fun!)

THIS IS ME:Eye Color: Blue or green depending on the light.Hair Color: brown with some grey--Dyed or Natural: au natural--Curly or Straight: slight bend but mostly straightRight- or Left-handed: right but can do left in a pinchTan or Pale: Freckled.Jeans or Khakis: jeans, much to S's dismayCountry, Rap, or Rock: Anything but rap or jazzCar: Volvo wagonPlace in order of preference--T.V., book, movie, music: book, tv, movie, musicYour heritage: English and Irish, I thinkShoes you're wearing today: really uncomfortable asics (I hate these sneaks!)Your weakness(es): dogs; cute bags; booksYour perfect pizza: Mediterranean Feta Bread from Aubree's (...feta infused cheese bread with sun-dried tomatoes, ripe olives, red onion & artichokes with garlic butter and parmesan. Served with marinara sauce or ranch dressing.) I like it with ranch.Favorite color: greenFavorite place: the sleeping porch of S's cottage on a cool Sunday morning - snuggled in bed and watching the sun rise over the lakeGoal you'd like to achieve: graduation, time living in EuropeYour most overused phrase(s): Oh, for fuck's sake (FFS)Your thoughts first waking up: Is it Saturday?Your best physical feature(s): don't knowYour bedtime: usually around 11:30Your most missed memory: Not sure.Pepsi or Coke: Iced tea or water. No soda. Ever.McDonald's or Burger King: Wendy'sSingle or group dates: what's a date?Adidas or Nike: Doc Marten'sLipton Ice Tea or Nestea: LuzianneChocolate or vanilla: ChocolateCappuccino or coffee: Just give me a cup of coffee, FFS!

DO YOU:Smoke: not any more.Cuss: as much as I can and with enthusiasm.Have a boyfriend/girlfriend: boyfriend STake a shower: yesHave a crush(es): Oh, yeah.Think you've been in love: I hope so.Want to get married: not at the momentBelieve in yourself: probably not as much as I could.Believe in God: believe in a higher powerBelieve in your government: not at the momentGet motion sickness: nope, touch woodThink you're attractive: I don't scare small children.Think you're a health freak: nope.Get along with your parents: ayeLike thunderstorms: Bring 'em on!

IN THE PAST MONTH, HAVE YOU:Drank alcohol: yesGone on a date: noGone to the mall: noBeen on stage: noEaten an entire box of Oreos: FFS! No.Eaten sushi: noBeen dumped: noGone skating: noGone skinny dipping: noStolen anything: there was that one paperclip I brought home from work.

HAVE YOU EVER:Played a game that required removal of clothing: noBeen trashed or extremely intoxicated: FFS. Yes.Been caught "doing something": noBeen called a tease: not to my knowledge.Gotten beaten up: in third grade a boy punched me in the stomach. I still hate him.Age you hope to be married: 70Number of children you'd like: zip, zero, zilchDescribe your dream wedding: Let me say this: NOT THE ONE I HAD. I don't have a "dream wedding".What do you want to be when you grow up: a college graduate.

WHAT YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX:Best eye color?: brownBest hair color?: none.Short or long hair: noneHeight: as long as he's taller than me, don't care. (I went on a couple of dates with a man shorter than me and it was bizarre.)Best first date location: picnic, volunteer somewhere (walk dogs at the shelter, maybe), ice cream, homeBest first kiss location: on a blanket in my yard watching a total lunar eclipse. (and I think I bit his lip!)

IN THE NUMBERS:Number of people I could trust with my life: 4Number of CD's: ffs. I don't know and I'm not counting.Number of piercings: three totalNumber of tattoos: twoNumber of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: three maybe?Number of scars on my body: a few.

I started crying at the beginning of PSILY and didn't stop until it was over. Thank God S wasn't there for most of it. (He arrived towards the end of the film and teased me mercilessly about bawling like a baby.)

I just adored this film.

Every once in a while, when I'm in the mood for a total tearjerker, I pull out The Color Purple.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Friday and Saturday we had a yard sale. I spent most of the day Friday tending it with my mom and my SIL.

Friday evening, S and I went to a surprise birthday party. I made the REALLY BAD mistake of not eating before we went. I had two gin martinis and was down for the count. It caused us to leave late on Saturday morning for...

The Antiques Roadshow in Grand Rapids, MI. This was my second time to have items appraised. The first time was last summer. My best friend K and I went to Louisville, KY, for a girl's weekend and had a blast. This year, S and I went and it took ALL DAY. (Needless to say, my SIL - who was tending the yard sale - was quite pissed because we were gone all day. I asked her why she didn't just shut down instead of keeping it open and getting pissed.) I took my dad's violin. Which he doesn't know how to play - none of us do. Found out that it would cost more to fix it up than to buy a new one. Not wholly unexpected, but a bit disappointing. I also took a small hand-made wooden box I got at the thrift store. It smells very much like smoke inside. The running joke was that it was an urn and the smell was left-over charred person. Luckily, I found out it's a humidor. So no more worries that it's dust of someone's favorite great aunt causing my little box to always carry a smoke smell.

This little box? That is a humidor? Which holds tobacco one smokes? Which implies that they INHALED THE SMOKE INTO THEIR LUNGS? Has a LEAD LINING. Yeah. Lead.

It's heavy as hell, this little box.

It was hand-made in the 30s or 40s and I find it utterly charming.

But I can't help but wonder what kind of health problems the person who used this humidor had.

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Yeah, I'm totally unoriginal today. So much so that I got the idea for this post straight from Wendy over at Martha MacGyver. I was wondering how I was going to work this into a blog post and when I saw her post, I knew this was it!

So, without further ado...

My apron:I found this cutie at the local Value World. Was looking for tea towels, but found this gem instead.With one pocket generous enough to hold a hot pad, I'm envisioning heavy use of this apron at Christmas time. So festive!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Russ jumped (if you knew this dog, you'd realize what a feat this was) from the dock to the boat to try to get to the swans swimming just out of frame. He hates the water, hates to swim. I guess he thought he could jump from the boat onto the swans. I had to put a plank between the boat and the dock to get him back on solid ground.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Saturday evening, I spent a couple of hours in a very enjoyable manner. I spent those couple of hours at a sewing machine MAKING BAGS. Both of which I gave away the next day, but hey...I had a ton of fun making them!

First up is an Artsy Clutch (Amy Karol, Bend-The-Rules Sewing). This was made as a gift for R, S's mom. I had so much fun making this bag! It sewed up quickly (about an hour...but speed will increase the more I make) and quite easily.

Project cost: I picked two fat-quarters which were $1.49 each but I only used half of each one, the cotton flannel facing was purchased at a church rummage sale in a huge bag of fabric - the amount I used was about 10¢ worth. The button was $4.99. The elastic loop was a hair band (!!!) - one of 32 I got for a buck. So I spent just over $8.00 for materials for this bag. (I am now obsessed with finding a large button collection that I can buy for cheap!)

I LOVE the lining of this bag. LOVE. IT. (Gah, these pictures suck!)

Secondly, I made a "My Leetle Bag" (Beth Roberts at YarnEnvy). Another quick, easy, and fun bag to make. I made this as a gift bag for baby J's welcoming ceremony. (I tucked a little elephant inside a small antique box for her.)

Project cost: I used one fat quarter ($1.49) and it was the perfect amount for the outside and the lining of this bag. The ribbon was part of a ribbon-assortment bag I bought for $1.00 - I used about 3¢ worth of ribbon. Materials for this bag cost me $1.61 - including tax. Took about an hour to make. (I'm assuming that sewing time will decrease once I've made more than one. This was my first.) People, you can't buy paper gift bags for this cheap!

I attribute the crappiness of these photos to the glass of wine I drank to celebrate my craftiness. So here's one that's pretty clear, in focus, and bright enough:

----------Next step is to make patterns that will help in the cutting of the materials - especially if I choose a fabric that is NOT a fat quarter. But fat quarters? RAWK.

What is a FAT Quarter? It is such a useful cut of fabric...take one 1/2 yd off the bolt, which is 18" by 44". You cut that in half and you have a cut 18" x 22". That is a FAT. (from Fat Quarter Quilters)

I've tried to change the font above 4 times but each time I preview it, that darned comic sans font shows up. I'm hoping this is just a preview fluke and it goes away. I HATE that font.